What it is
The Bachelor of Music (BM) is a professional undergraduate degree for musicians — performance, composition, music education, and more. It's more conservatory-style and performance-intensive than a BA in Music, with admission usually by audition.
The degrees & designations
The BM is in the performing arts:
How long it takes
About four years of full-time study (roughly 120 credit hours); some fields run to five with co-ops or intensive sequences.
What you study
Students focus on applied lessons and performance, music theory and history, ensembles, and a recital, with a smaller general-education core. Tracks include performance, composition, and music education.
Getting in
Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, transcripts, and often essays, recommendations, and (sometimes) tests. Selectivity varies by school and program.
Cost & funding
Cost ranges widely — from lower-cost public in-state tuition to private universities — with grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans commonly used. Starting at a community college can reduce cost.
Where it leads
A BM prepares graduates for careers as performers, composers, and music educators, and for graduate study (MM, DMA).
How it compares
Versus a BA in Music, the BM is more intensive and pre-professional; the BA is broader and more academic.
Is it right for you?
A BM fits students committed to music as a profession who want maximum performance/composition training.
Explore further
This is a reference guide. Keep exploring:
Key facts
- WhatA professional undergraduate music degree
- EmphasisPerformance/composition; audition-based admission
- CoreApplied lessons, ensembles, theory, history, recital
- FieldVisual & Performing Arts (Music)
- Leads toMusic careers; MM and DMA
Where to learn more
Keep exploring the resource: